The “université de Bordeaux” (France) has a long-lasting university tradition dating back to 1441. Ranked among the top universities in France for the quality of its academic courses and research, it is a multi-disciplinary, research-focused, international institution.

The third largest university in France (by the number of its students)

The University of Bordeaux is the third largest university in France (based on the number of its students), with more than 50, 000 students, including almost 2, 000 PhD students and 6, 000 foreign students. It employs around 5, 600 staff members, of which nearly 3, 000 are academic and research staff.

A campus of excellence The University of Bordeaux is leading an ambitious project to be one of Europe's top research universities, in partnership with national research organizations such as the CNRS, Inserm and others (INRA, Inria, Irstea) and also along with the “Grandes Ecoles” located in Bordeaux such as Bordeaux Sciences Agro, Sciences Po Bordeaux, IPB. This strategy to develop the University of Bordeaux as a Campus of Excellence has been rewarded with significant funding provided by the French Government in the framework of its "Investment for the future" program, a national funding program that aims to promote the development of knowledge and innovation within France thus supporting the future growth of the country.

Thematic clusters of excellence

As a multi-disciplinary institution, the University of Bordeaux aims at a cross-disciplinary research approach. Such an approach favors new discoveries and facilitates the development of programs whose final objectives meet with the current and future needs of society. Its research teams are renowned worldwide and cover a wide range of disciplines and specialties in the fields of Sciences, Technologies, Social Sciences, Life and Health Sciences, Law, Economics and Management. One of the main priorities of the University of Bordeaux is to promote the development of thematic clusters of excellence for research, training and knowledge transfer in the following fields: environmental sciences, neurosciences, advanced materials, archaeology, optics and lasers, computer sciences, translational research and advanced imaging, public health and cardiology. These clusters drive the international reputation of the University of Bordeaux as they are composed of expert research teams whose excellence is already internationally recognized according to the discipline standards. Based on innovative, multi-disciplinary research projects, these clusters are of great importance not only for the image of the University of Bordeaux but also for the future of French research in terms of socio-economic impacts (valorization, education, internationalization).

In the field of Environmental sciences, the cluster of excellence COTE (headed by Pr. Antoine Kremer and Pr. Hélène Budzinski) studies continental to coastal ecosystems: their evolution, adaptability and governance in the context of global change. This cluster brings together research teams in ecology, biology, physics, ecotoxicology and social sciences. In the field of Neurosciences, the cluster of excellence BRAIN (headed by Pr. Daniel Choquet), focuses on understanding the brain functions and its pathologies. It aims at developing a transversal approach from molecules to behavior. It brings together research teams in neurosciences, optics and high resolution imaging.

In the field of Advanced materials, the cluster of excellence AMADEus (headed by Pr. Etienne Duguet) studies advanced materials by design and aims at developing innovative materials for the future. Its main themes of research are: materials, biomaterials, nanostructures and organic electronics.

In the field of Archaeology, the cluster of excellence LascarBx (headed by Pr. Valérie Fromentin, Pierre Guibert, Bruno Maureille) studies ancient societies, focusing on processes and forms of appropriation of space in the long term. It is composed of research teams in archaeology, archeometry, history, paleoenvironment and biological anthropology.

New knowledge, mechanisms and techniques, generated by developments in basic science research, need to be effectively transferred into new approaches for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. The cluster of excellence TRAIL (headed by Pr. Vincent Dousset), in the field of Translational research and advanced imaging, aims at choosing the fastest way from bench to bedside. It gathers research teams in oncology, neurology, cardiology, pneumology and nephrology.

In the field of Public health, the cohort study i-Share (headed by Pr. Christophe Tzourio), in partnership with the university of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (France) aims at following the state of health of 30,000 students over a period of 10 years. Very little research to date has been written up on this population. The study focuses on mental diseases, migraines, sexually transmitted diseases, high-risk behavior and accidents.

Headed by Pr. Michel Haissaguerre and the department of cardiology at CHU de Bordeaux, LIRYC is one of six “Instituts Hospitalo-Universitaires” - training and medical research institutions created within the framework of the ‘Investments for the future’ program in order to promote French medical research by bringing together all the specialties from basic research to patient care. LIRYC is specialized in the study, diagnosis and treatment of cardiac electrical dysfunctions, the cause of numerous cardiovascular diseases and sudden deaths.

In the field of optics and lasers, the cluster of excellence Laphia (headed by Pr. Lionel Canioni) currently forms one of the top state-of-the-art laser science clusters in the world. Its research focuses on laser, photonics, processes and energy.

Finally, in the field of computer sciences, the cluster of excellence CPU (headed by Pr. Thierry Colin) aims at innovations that will improve the reliability of our systems, at work and at home. It brings together research teams that deal with computer science, mathematics, signal, communication systems and production.

This diverse range of clusters promotes the development of modern, renewed academic courses and challenge-based research. In association with its socio-economic partners, the “université de Bordeaux” is thus fulfilling its ambition to be an internationally recognized leader in European research.